The Low Carbon Economy Ltd

UK Green Building Council calls for low-carbon buildings

The UK Green Building Council has set out new guidelines for the nation's construction industry.

According to the council, the sector must boost its energy efficiency so that it can reduce carbon emissions by 50 per cent by 2020.

Paul King, the organisation's chief executive, is calling on the construction industry to take into consideration the impact it can have on helping the UK to achieve its CO2 reduction targets.

Speaking at the UK Green Building Council's annual conference, Mr King revealed scientists and pressure groups were now calling for CO2 cuts of 40 per cent and that the construction sector needed to play a bigger role in achieveing this.

He said: "We drastically need to cut emissions from all sectors, but the built environment offers the best cost-effective opportunity to do that. We have the technology and the know-how in the industry.

"I do not underestimate the size of the challenge, but I believe that by working together with government, industry and building occupiers, we can deliver cuts of 50 per cent by 2020."

Industry giants Balfour Beatty and LendLease have given their support to the proposals.